Accountant II or III, Financial Services

Overview

The Chick-fil-A Financial Services Department is made up of many sub-departments that support Chick-fil-A Franchisees and Chick-fil-A, Inc. As an Accountant, you will have the opportunity to contribute to Chick-fil-A through challenging and meaningful work while building your professional brand, gaining accounting experience, and preparing for a successful career.

By applying for this position, applicants will automatically be considered for all positions listed below and will be placed based on their skills, interests, and business need.

Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and remotely, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

Responsibilities

Restaurant Payroll Service Accountant: 

• Provide dedicated support for an assigned restaurant group for daily payroll inquiries and system support 
• Perform general ledger reconciliation, analysis, and provide assurance for accounts 
• Review and identify ways to automate or improve Payroll General Ledger processes and validations 
• Partner with key stakeholders across the business to resolve accounting issues through innovative and forward-thinking solutions 
• Communicate proactively and effectively with Operators, 3rd party vendors, and key leaders 
• Exposure to the demands and functions of private industry payroll and accounting 

Restaurant Cash Management Accountant:

• Performs analysis and reconciliation of Franchisee level cash activity and procedures including credit, gift card and disbursement transactions for assigned restaurants.
• Proactively identifies cash and credit risks and reports potential issues that may impact financial results
• Continually identifies enhancements and change opportunities for current processes
• Performs payment reconciliations and analysis for Franchisee, Chick-fil-A Inc., Dwarf House Group and other subsidiaries
• Performs general ledger reconciliation, analysis, and provides assurance for accounts
• Communicates proactively and effectively with Operators, 3rd party vendors and internal staff.
• Assist in assurance of 3rd party services and automated processes

Lease Accountant:

• Responsible for accounting on all Chick-fil-A, Inc. lease agreements, amendments, extensions and other financial agreements covering our restaurant sites and corporate properties
• Perform audit, payment, and accounting of rent, property tax, and other occupancy costs
• Process landlord invoices which involve on the job training to enable reading/interpreting lease language and disputing incorrect charges
• Opportunity to work on cross-functional projects related to the new lease accounting standard
• Develop relationships across the business to be a trusted resource for lease information Restaurant Financial Reporting

Restaurant Accountant:

• Exposure to a variety of private industry accounting needs
• Reconcile and research multiple general ledger accounts, verification of disbursements, gain accounting software systems experience (Oracle), and review of monthly franchise fee data
• Exposure to key leaders from various functional areas
• Perform special project work supporting operations, marketing, and new growth
• Directly support Owner/Operators and their Restaurant(s) financial questions, with flexibility and openness to occasionally support outside core support center hours

General Ledger Accountant:

• Serves as a subject matter expert for General Ledger reconciliations
• Performs General Ledger reconciliations for assigned group of stores
• May act as a liaison representing Restaurant Accounting work
• Solves complex problems related to General Ledger activity
• Reviews and identifies ways to automate or improve General Ledger reconciliations
• Has appreciable latitude for unreviewed action and decision
• Performs work under limited supervision, conferring with supervisors on unusual matters
• Interprets and applied organization policies
• Collaborates with other General Ledger account owners to ensure accuracy and timelines
• May serve as Restaurant Accountant for a reduced number of stores

Lease Audit Accountant:

• Responsible for auditing, paying and accounting for real estate occupancy costs for Chick-fil-A restaurants in certain geographic regions by applying lease language to invoices and billings
• Serve as the primary rental contact for Landlords and Chick-fil-A Franchisees for ongoing rental obligations
• Research and reconcile outstanding issues on Landlord statements
• Initiate and manage the dispute process with landlords to pursue refunds and any overbilled charges with the potential of savings for Chick-fil-A, Inc., and Franchisees
• Ensure proper accounting entries and accruals are made on both Chick-fil-A, Inc. financial statements and Restaurant Franchisee Fee Calculation Reports
• Develop relationships across the business to be a trusted resource and problem solver on lease audit issues

Capital Asset Reporting Accountant:

• Track the compilation of project costs into fixed asset account and close out those accounts once the related project has been completed
• Calculate and record fixed asset depreciation and appropriate retirements
• Validate the existence of fixed asset through the reconciliation of multiple reports
• Track restaurant property tax liability from local assessment data and communicate to stakeholders
• Partner with professionals across the organization to provide perspective for various initiatives

Fixed Asset:

• Account for recurring restaurant activity including new restaurant development and restaurant reinvestment projects under the consultation of more senior accountants or with People Leader on complex issues
• Track the compilation of project costs into fixed asset general ledge accounts and track status of capital projects, both restaurant and corporate projects
• Recording fixed asset acquisitions and recognizing dispositions in the accounting system through cost accumulation.
• Analyze, review, and validate asset maintenance transactions and recognize capital activity

Accountant III, Property Tax:

• Possess and apply basic knowledge of Property Tax, GAAP Accounting, and Information Technology to ensure Chick-fil-A, Inc. compliance
• Assist with Property Tax accounting for restaurants, distribution centers, international properties, and other corporately owned assets
• Support third-party Property Tax systems with an emphasis on innovation and process improvement.
• Review and reconcile third-party system, Chick-fil-A, Inc. general ledger, and restaurant accounting
• Manage consultants and systems designed to process Property Tax payments to local tax jurisdictions
• Direct process for tracking, collecting, and accounting for Property Tax refunds received from local tax jurisdictions
• Project management for special projects related to Property Tax systems or accounting

Minimum Qualifications

• Must pass Chick-fil-A accounting test OR CPA (Certified Public Accountant) OR passed all four parts CPA exam
• 0-3 years of experience
• Knowledge and understanding of Chick-fil-A’s standard suite of work solutions (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Aptitude for problem solving and innovation
• Excellent interpersonal relations and demonstrated ability to work with others effectively in teams and independently
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple deadlines

Travel Requirements

Required Level of Education

Major/Concentration

Minimum GPA (4.0 Scale)